Tilehurst
Nearby towns and cities: ReadingNearby villages: Sulham,
Tidmarsh,
Theale,
Purley-On-Thames,
PangbourneNearby suburbs: Calcot,
Fords Farm,
Southcote,
ColeyChanges to local government boundaries over the years have split local government responsibility for Tilehurst. This fragmentation tends to lead to confusion and political controversy.
The eastern part of Tilehurst (sometimes referred to as
Tilehurst Within) is in the
Borough of Reading, forming the Tilehurst, Kentwood and Norcot wards of that borough. All local government responsibility for this part of Tilehurst lies with the borough council.
The western part of Tilehurst (sometimes referred to as
Tilehurst Without) forms the civil parish of Tilehurst, which has an elected parish council. This part of Tilehurst falls within the area of the
unitary authority of
West Berkshire. Both the parish council and the unitary authority are responsible for different aspects of local government.
All of Tilehurst falls within the
Reading West parliamentary constituency.
The name
Tilehurst comes from
tigel or
tile and
hurst or wooded hill.
Tile manufacturing was present in the district until recent times.
*
1167: First mention as Tigelhurst
*
1189: Founding of
St. Michael's Church, Tilehurst*
14th century: Now Tygelhurst
*
16th century: Tylehurst
* Later Tilehurst
The manor house of Tilehurst is at
Calcot Park within the ancient parish. It was, for many years, the home of the Blagrave family, whose members include the mathematician,
John Blagrave, and the regicide,
Daniel Blagrave. In March of 1894 JH Blagrave sold an area of land to the Church wardens and overseers of the parish of Tilehurst. This land later became known as the Blagrave Recreation Park (or the Rec). It was agreed that the land was there for the children of the area to use. Since then, it has been used by people of all ages, from various backgrounds. In March 1898 Tilehurst Parish Council were appointed as trustees being replaced by the forerunner of Reading Borough Council in February 1914.
William Lloyd, the late
17th century bishop of St Asaph,
Lichfield and Coventry, and
Worcester was born in Tilehurst in 1627.
*
List of places in Berkshire*
List of civil parishes in England*
Little Heath School*
www.tilehurst.net*
St. Michael's Church, Tilehurst
